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Top 10 Wrestling Stories of the Week 2/25: Title vs. Title at WrestleMania, Undertaker in WWE HOF, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 25th February 2022
wwe wrestlemania 38 title vs title reigns lesnar

Welcome back TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday throwing out your Russian salad dressing to show your patriotism, and missed WWE Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to figure out what “huge” announcement you can make this week, and missed Raw.

Worry not for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

10. Dolph Ziggler to Face Bron Breakker for the NXT Championship

Dolph Ziggler is the new number one contender for the NXT Championship. This past Tuesday on NXT 2.0, Ziggler faced Tommaso Ciampa in a number one contender’s match. The finish of the match saw Ziggler’s partner Robert Roode, who was disguised as a camera man, hit Ciampa with a camera to allow Ziggler to hit a superkick leading to the pinfall win. It has not been officially announced when Ziggler will get his opportunity against NXT World Champion Bron Breakker, but the match is likely to take place at NXT Stand and Deliver on April 2nd. Ziggler competing for the NXT Championship at Stand and Deliver will be a stark contrast to what he usually does on Raw, which is Sit and Eat. (TJRWrestling)

9. Logan Paul to Wrestle at WrestleMania 38

Everybody’s favorite “celebrity” is returning to the WWE. This past Saturday at WWE Elimination Chamber, The Miz promised to even the odds against the Mysterio’s after his defeat. This past Monday on Raw, The Miz revealed who his mystery partner will be. Logan Paul was revealed to be The Miz’s surprise, with Paul and The Miz then proceeding to challenge the Mysterio’s to a match at WrestleMania 38. Rey and Dominik Mysterio then came out and accepted the challenge for the match. The Miz and Paul then attacked the Mysterios, hitting both of them with a Skull Crushing Finale. For anyone my age or older wondering who Logan Paul is, my kids tell me he is on the tickey-tock and makes shows for the internet. (TJRWrestling)

8. World Title Matches Set for AEW Revolution

We now know who will challenge for both the Women’s and Men’s World Championships at AEW Revolution on March 6th. On the Women’s side, it will be Thunder Rosa challenging Britt Baker for the AEW Women’s championship. Rosa defeated Baker in a memorable Lights Out Match a little over a year ago, in one of the most violent women’s matches of all time. On the men’s side, it will be the “Battle of the Adams” when Adam Cole challenges “Hangman” Adam Page for the AEW World Championship. These two matches alone should make any wrestler want to order the PPV, and that is even before Tony Khan promises six huge announcements on the show. (TJRWrestling)

7. Bobby Lashley Reportedly Needs Shoulder Surgery

WWE may be without one of its biggest stars for WrestleMania. This past Saturday, Bobby Lashley was set to defend his WWE World Championship inside the Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia. Before Lashley even entered the match, however, Seth Rollins threw Austin Theory into Lashley’s pod with a buckle bomb. This caused Lashley to hit his head, and be removed from the chamber match. It was then reported later in the week, that this spot was done due to Lashley’s legitimate shoulder injury that will require surgery. Lashley will reportedly miss four months of action, meaning he will not be back in time for WrestleMania 38. Lashley missing WrestleMania due to injury is unquestionably shocking, as people assumed he would lose his spot on the card to a celebrity or part-time superstar instead. (TJRWrestling)

6. Bianca Belair to Face Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38

Bianca Belair will have a chance to avenge her 26-second-loss to Becky Lynch at SummerSlam. Belair was able to defeat five other women inside the Elimination Chamber this past Saturday, to earn a Raw Women’s Title Match against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38. This will be Belair’s second year in a row challenging for a Women’s Championship at Mania, as she defeated Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women’s Title in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 37. Hopefully, Belair and Lynch’s match will be a lot longer this time, as any woman will tell you that nothing satisfying ever happens in 26 seconds. (TJRWrestling)

5. Jeff Hardy Says He Is Going to AEW

It would not be a proper Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week, without a story of a former WWE superstar joining AEW. This week, during an interview with Jared Myers, Jeff Hardy stated that he is going to AEW. Hardy has since backed down from his comments, stating that nothing is final yet. Hardy’s non-compete clause ends on March 9th, with Hardy free to compete for AEW after that. Hardy was not the only former WWE star to be joining AEW this week, as Buddy Matthews (formerly Buddy Murphy) appeared on Dynamite. Matthews debuted as the third member of the House of Black, and attacked Penta and PAC. Rumors also circulated this week that ROH Champion Jonathan Gresham and former WWE superstar Isaiah “Swerve” Scott are also going to be joining AEW. In related news, AEW Dark will now feature 54 matches a week. (TJRWrestling)

4. Sami Zayn Captures the Intercontinental Championship

Sami Zayn is once again the WWE Intercontinental Champion. This past Friday on Smackdown, Zayn was able to defeat Shinsuke Nakamura to capture the Intercontinental Championship for a third time. Nakamura captured the Intercontinental Title way back in August of 2021 by defeating Apollo Crews. Remarkably, Nakamura only defended the title one time on television or PPV since then, and that match occurred last September. Hopefully Zayn will be able to bring some prestige back to this once great title, and WWE will not just end up making Zayn look like a Jackass. (TJRWrestling)

3. Cesaro Leaves WWE

WWE is going to have to do without its Swiss Superman. This week it was revealed that Cesaro has let his WWE contract quietly expire, and is no longer with the WWE. Cesaro is now free to wrestle anywhere he likes since he does not have a non-compete clause. Cesaro had been a part of the WWE since 2011, and was last seen losing to Happy Corbin on Smackdown on February 11th. During his over ten-year run in the WWE, Cesaro was often considered the most underutilized wrestler on the roster. It is unknown what Cesaro’s plans are for the future, but I predict another “huge announcement” from Tony Khan real soon. (TJRWrestling)

2. The Undertaker to be Inducted Into the WWE Hall of Fame

One of the greatest superstars in WWE history is about to enter the WWE Hall of Fame. This past Friday it was announced that The Undertaker would be heading up this year’s Hall of Fame class. WWE released a tremendous video package to celebrate Taker’s amazing career, playing it multiple times throughout the week. This year’s Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled to take place on April 1st, immediately following Smackdown. The Undertaker’s accolades are well documented, with his legacy being a lot harder to remove than a throat tattoo. (TJRWrestling)

1. Brock Lesnar Captures the WWE Championship

Brock Lesnar has had a busy few months. On Day 1 on January 1st, Brock Lesnar captured the WWE Championship in a Fatal 5-Way match. Lesnar would then go on to lose the WWE Championship to Bobby Lashley on January 29th, before then winning the Men’s Royal Rumble Match later that night. Lesnar’s crazy month did not stop there, however, as this past Saturday at WWE Elimination Chamber, Lesnar was able to defeat five other men to once again capture the WWE World Championship. Lesnar will now defend the WWE Championship at MSG on March 5th, and then if successful will face Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38 in a winner takes all title-for-title match. Lesnar was originally scheduled to face Bobby Lashley at MSG, but with Lashley reportedly injured Lesnar will now likely have a different opponent. It is currently unknown who will be facing Lesnar at MSG, but Lesnar is reportedly worried that after all his hard work this month, a part-timer is going to come in at the last minute and take his spot. (TJRWrestling)

That will conclude another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. Thank you for taking the time to read this each week. Although I often joke, I have recently started refereeing with NYCW and respect more than ever what wrestlers do every week. I wrote an article all about it all right here. If you like what I do, despite my jokes being almost bad as invading your neighbor’s home completely unprovoked, then follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1.